OAR 177-070-0025: Payment of Prizes

(1) Prizes of $600 or Less: Prizes of $600 or less from winning Draw games may be paid by a retailer or directly by the Lottery as provided in OAR 177-046-0110. (2) Prizes Greater than $600: Prizes greater than $600 may not be paid by a Lottery retailer. A player must claim a winning Draw game prize of more than $600 by presenting the ticket to the Lottery as provided in OAR 177-046-0110. (3) Payment Method: Upon validation of a winning ticket, the Lottery shall pay the amount due. The amount due shall be calculated according to the rules adopted for the particular Draw game. If the ticket is determined to be a non-winning ticket or invalid, the claim shall be denied and the claimant notified. A non-winning ticket or share will only be returned to the claimant if the claimant provides return postage and a self-addressed envelope or mailing container in which to return the ticket or share. (a) When a prize payment is authorized by the Director under OAR 177-070-0035(4), the prize payment shall be validated through the Lottery’s central computer system on the last day of the eligible prize claim period. If the prize claim period expires on a day when the Oregon Lottery Headquarters is not processing claims, such as a weekend, Lottery holiday, furlough closure day, or unforeseen circumstance, the claim period shall be extended until 5:00 p.m. on the next day the Oregon Lottery is processing claims. Following validation, the Lottery shall issue the prize payment in the usual course of Lottery business. (b) Prize payments made under this subsection shall be restricted to the prize amount under the prize structure for the Draw game in which the ticket was purchased. (4) Last Date to Claim a Prize: The last date to claim a prize is one calendar year from the date the drawing results become official and final, unless the Lottery Commission defines a shorter time period to claim a prize in a particular Draw game. A prize must be claimed by 5:00 p.m. on the last date to claim a prize and if not claimed by that date is an unclaimed prize. If the final date of the claim period falls on a day when the Lottery Headquarters or Lottery Branch is not processing claims, such as a weekend, Lottery holiday, furlough closure day, or unforeseen circumstance, the claim period shall be extended until 5:00 p.m. on the next day the Lottery Headquarters or Lottery Branch is processing claims.